Kevin Yang designs concept Commi Board, an attachable board that allows engineers to make their electronic prototypes behind their phones. A way to let people learn and practice electronics, the magnetic device brings prototyping, coding, and testing into a single system centered on a smartphone. Instead of asking users to buy computers, microcontrollers, and displays, Commi Board uses the phone as the main interface and processing unit. The attachable board for electronic prototypes also connects through USB-C or Bluetooth.

Commi Board is modular, as users place electronic components directly onto the board. Connections are guided through a dedicated app, which reflects the physical layout of the circuit and helps users understand how components relate to code. Errors appear during the process rather than at the end to avoid a trial-and-error approach. A key design choice is simulation since instead of requiring a separate microcontroller for every test, the attachable board for electronic prototypes simulates microcontroller behavior using the phone’s computing power. Users, then, can write and run code without flashing firmware onto external chips.

all images courtesy of Kevin Yang

Dedicated app allows users to share their projects for others

Programming is offered through four methods with the Commi Board. Users can write code using an AI-based natural language system, visual programming blocks, Scratch-like logic, or a fully integrated development environment. Beginners can start with guided logic and move toward text-based programming as their understanding grows since the system does not force a single learning path. Real-time feedback is central to how the design helps users. With this, voltage states, logic changes, and circuit responses are shown immediately on the phone screen. This makes cause and effect visible, and instead of reading theory about signals or pins, users see results as they interact with the system. It is a way for the designer to support learning through direct action.

The app includes cloud storage and a project-sharing space. Users can save projects, reload them, or study work made by others. This allows learning beyond individual use. Shared projects function as examples, references, and starting points. The board can load these projects without rebuilding circuits from scratch, saving time and reducing frustration. Tech-wise, the system integrates printed circuit board design, GPIO communication, USB-C 3.2, BLE, and Bluetooth, choices that allow stable data transfer between the phone and the board. So far. the project remains in development, with some API and software layers still in mock-up form. Early prototypes revealed connection and stability issues, which informed later iterations. The project began in June 2024 at the Royal College of Art in London as a student initiative, which later on won the A’ Design Award in the Education category.

Kevin Yang designs Commi Board, an attachable board for electronic prototypes

users can put the device on the back of their smartphones

detailed view of the board

there’s a dedicated app to help the users with the circuit paths, voltage, and more

project info:

name: Commi Board

designer: Kevin Yang | @Kevy.Design

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Located at the intersection of HITEC City and the Financial District in Hyderabad, India, Nivan Sky Gardens emerges as a contemporary residential ecosystem that repositions nature at the heart of high-density living. Designed by Studio Symbiosis, the project proposes a verdant vertical community where architecture and landscape operate as an integrated, self-sustaining system. The development responds to the modern disconnect from the natural world by transforming the traditional residential tower into a living landscape. Through a modular, staggered framework, the towers create a layered-shaded facade where every projecting module functions as an inhabitable garden terrace, allowing the architecture to mature into a cultivated vertical forest over time.

Nivan Sky Gardens in Hyderabad, India | all images courtesy of VERO DIGITAL

STUDIO SYMBIOSIS FUSES URBAN DESIGN WITH NATURE

Founded on the principles of synergy, Studio Symbiosis operates across Stuttgart, London, and Delhi NCR with a collective of over 90 architects. By fusing architecture with landscape and materiality with responsibility, the studio creates spaces that interact and evolve with their surroundings rather than being imposed upon them. At Studio Symbiosis, design is not separated from performance, it is integrated into the ecological resonance of the building, forming harmony with nature.

designed by Studio Symbiosis, the project proposes a verdant vertical community

VERTICAL GARDENS FORM NATURE-CENTRIC PENTHOUSES

The spatial philosophy of Nivan Sky Gardens draws inspiration from the archetype of a traditional house with a front garden, reinterpreting it for a vertical context. Each residence, ranging from 130 to almost 700 square metres, is conceived as a self-sustaining module with an adaptable layout that allows the apartment to grow and change with its occupant. To ensure both openness and seclusion, the balconies are folded and articulated to create distinct outdoor zones, while integrated louvres provide privacy from neighbors without sacrificing natural light. These modules are vertically staggered to form generous planting pockets, reinforcing the project’s identity as a garden dwelling in the sky.

the development transforms the traditional residential tower into a vertical forest

The ground plane and clubhouse serve as a layered social infrastructure, activating the site with a blend of recreational and productive landscapes. Residents have access to sports courts, open playfields, an amphitheater, and organic farming plots, all embedded within the greenery. A central swimming pool, animated by cascading waterfalls, anchors the communal space. Indoors, the clubhouse consolidates wellness centers, a mini-theatre, and a rooftop café that overlooks the gardens. By integrating fluid circulation between these outdoor activity zones and the elevated amenities, the project successfully bridges the gap between the built environment and an active, nature-centric lifestyle.

the project bridges the gap between urban and nature-centric lifestyle

Nivan Sky Gardens repositions nature at the heart of high-density living

the reception lobby and other amenities on the ground floor serve as a layered social infrastructure

each residence is conceived as a self-sustaining module with an adaptable layout

integrated louvres provide privacy from neighbors without sacrificing natural light

the modules are staggered to form planting pockets, reinforcing the project’s identity as a garden dwelling in the sky

through a modular, staggered framework, the towers create a layered-shaded facade

every apartment is a penthouse with a terrace garden

project info: 

name: Nivan Sky Gardens
location: Hyderabad, India
design: Amit Gupta and Britta Knobel Gupta, Studio Symbiosis | @studiosymbiosisoffical
project lead: Sonal Dongre Jain, Vedant Sangal, Kartik Misra
team: Nitish Talmale, Akshay Kadoori, Dewesh Agrawal, Anjan Mondal, Chaitanya Goyal, Gaurav Gupta, Satpal Singh Chauhan, Harshi Garg, Aditya Sharma, Govinda Dey, Apurv Jain, Diksith S., Roshan Bhojwani
site area: 9.37 acre
status: under construction

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Meet Wingcube, a foldable tent box that transforms from a wooden cabinet-like structure into a wing-looking mobile shelter. Combining the structure of a tent with the concept of a compact cabin, the project, which is till in development, focuses on being modular so users can transport it anywhere with their vehicles. It can be towed easily, and once it finds its spot, the structure extends outward like a fan, creating a raised mini cabin.

From the outside, the foldable wooden tent box looks soft and rounded as the roof curves gently like an arc, and the material appears to be made from weather-resistant canvas in a neutral beige tone. Large transparent plastic windows are integrated into the sides, allowing light inside while protecting against wind and rain. The foldable wooden tent box stands slightly above the ground, with a small ladder leading up to the platform. In this way, the structure is suspended from the ground.

all images courtesy of Wingcube

Compact kitchenette with vertical storage system

In front of the open entrance, an outdoor table and folding chairs are arranged, extending the living space into the dining and gathering area. From here, the interior is seen, with walls and built-in furniture made of light wood panels. Grain patterns appear visible on the wooden surfaces of the foldable tent box, giving Wingcube a warm and natural feel. There’s also a contrast between the soft textile exterior and the solid wooden interior. A built-in shelving unit is hung onto the main frame of the cabinet-looking structure, where the shelves are divided into square compartments, holding books, baskets, and small personal items.

Below the shelves sits a mattress with two pillows. The bed platform is flush with the wooden floor, creating a simple sleeping area without extra frames, and the edges are rounded to match the curved opening of the tent. On the other side of the foldable wooden tent box, the prototype showcases a kitchenette with a small refrigerator and vertical storage compartments. Everything is integrated into the wooden structure to avoid loose furniture, making the storage and function built directly into the walls. Although still in the prototype phase, the Wingcube aims to create a mobile shelter and mini cabin that unfolds like a fan to save space and that users can bring to their camping.

the foldable wooden tent box looks soft and rounded as the roof curves gently like an arc

large transparent plastic windows are integrated into the sides and on the roof

there’s a mini fridge and storage next to the extendable dining table

there’s a wooden shelf inside the mini cabin

view of the structure when folded

the mini cabin is suspended from the ground

so far, there’s a prototype, and there’s no news yet on its release

project info:

name: Wingcube

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Fractal Swarm is a site-specific kinetic installation by French artist Vincent Leroy, situated within the open landscape of the Tanzanian plains. The project investigates the relationship between geometric systems and natural forces, allowing wind and light to shape its spatial expression.

The installation consists of an ultra-light fractal framework composed of repeated modular elements, some produced through 3D printing. Rooted in principles of repetition and self-similarity, the structure begins as a precise geometric configuration. Through environmental interaction, however, the rigid mathematical system shifts visually toward a more fluid and organic presence.

The fractal geometry establishes a formal dialogue with the surrounding terrain. Its branching configuration echoes the silhouettes of leafless acacia trees and the fragmented textures of arid vegetation typical of the dry season. Rather than occupying the landscape as a static object, the structure operates as an extension of its visual patterns.

all images courtesy of Vincent Leroy

moving mirrored fins compose Vincent Leroy’s Fractal Swarm

Thin mirrored fins are integrated into the modules, capturing and refracting the intense light of the plains. As daylight conditions change, reflections alter the installation’s visibility, at times intensifying its presence and at other moments allowing it to blend into the horizon.

The structure is entirely wind-activated. Individual components oscillate and rotate independently, generating continuous micro-movements across the overall form. This decentralized motion gradually reconfigures the silhouette, producing shifting formations that recall collective natural phenomena such as flocks of birds in flight.

Through Fractal Swarm, artist Vincent Leroy translates mathematical geometry into a kinetic spatial system shaped by atmospheric conditions, positioning environmental forces as active contributors to the installation’s form and perception.

Fractal Swarm is installed within the open plains of Tanzania

wind transforms fractal geometry into living form

an ultra-light structure stirred by the wind

branching forms echo acacias and arid vegetation

a dense geometric constellation against the sky

metallic fins catching the shifting tones of the sky

a shifting silhouette against the sunset

gathering the final glow of the setting sun

the movement recalls drifting flocks in the evening light

project info:

name: Fractal Swarm

designer: Vincent Leroy | @vincent_leroy_studio

location: Tanzania

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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Located between the rear facade of a shopping center and a residential building, the Quinta da Armada urban farm in Braga, Portugal, operates as a compact but active green space within a dense urban setting. For the Festival Forma da Vizinhança – Braga 25, Portuguese Capital of Culture, LIMIT architecture studio developed the Sementeira Ambulante (Mobile Seedbed), a modular, mobile greenhouse structure designed to support seed germination, promote biodiversity, and extend the presence of the farm into the city.

The project originated from site visits and discussions with the farm’s community prior to the design phase. These exchanges highlighted the farm’s social, ecological, and economic role within its immediate context. Surrounded by built infrastructure, the cultivated plots provide space for planting, food production, and shared activity. A graffiti message discovered near the site: ‘Who sows illusions, reaps disappointments,’ informed the project’s conceptual direction, prompting a proposal focused on cultivating awareness and collective participation. Rather than remaining confined within the farm’s boundaries, the initiative sought to disseminate its practices and values throughout Braga.

all images by Adriano Ferreira Borges unless stated otherwise

Mobile Seedbed by LIMIT acts as a shared traveling  greenhouse

The resulting structure by LIMIT architecture studio consists of eight modular units mounted on wheels. Each unit is constructed with lightweight aluminium frames, internal shelving for seed trays, translucent yellow polycarbonate panels, and a curved sheet metal roof. The roof profile references traditional greenhouse typologies while enabling effective rainwater drainage. Variations in height and configuration allow the modules to be assembled in multiple arrangements according to programmatic needs.

When positioned within the farm, the Mobile Seedbed functions as a shared greenhouse, supporting seed germination and small-scale cultivation. When transported through the city, it operates as a travelling device for seed distribution and environmental education. By relocating a fragment of the farm into different neighbourhoods, the structure increases the visibility of urban agriculture and encourages the replication of similar initiatives.

Conceived as a pilot project extending beyond the festival timeframe, the Sementeira Ambulante operates simultaneously as agricultural infrastructure, educational platform, and mobile public installation, linking local food production with broader urban engagement.

LIMIT architecture studio developed the Mobile Seedbed, a modular, mobile greenhouse structure

the modular system supports seed germination and biodiversity

the structure extends the presence of the urban farm into the city

the structure consists of eight aluminium modular units mounted on wheels

the compact green space operates within a dense urban context

a graffiti message informed the project’s conceptual direction

translucent yellow polycarbonate panels enclose the modules

the travelling structure increases the visibility of urban agriculture | image by ArtWorks – Equipa audiovisual

when stationary, the Mobile Seedbed functions as a shared greenhouse

the modules vary in height and can be assembled in different configurations

project info:

name: Sementeira Ambulante
architect: LIMIT architecture studio | @limit_architecture_studio

location: Braga, Portugal

photographers: Adriano Ferreira Borges | @adriano_ferreira_borges, ArtWorks – Equipa audiovisual | @aw_artworks

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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PnP Furniture (Plank and Point) introduces the Cabinet Collection, a series of storage pieces constructed through a modular system of planks and exposed screw connections. The series draws on the logic of wooden fences, where evenly spaced vertical boards create rhythm, order, and enclosure through simple modular components.

The arrangement of regularly dimensioned planks establishes a consistent visual cadence. This ordered framework provides a structured setting for the objects stored within, addressing the need for coordination as personal belongings accumulate over time. Rather than concealing storage, the system defines it through visible construction and measured spacing.

The material approach begins with cut timber in its sectional state. By standardizing dimensions and reorganizing wooden elements according to a defined assembly rule, the collection reframes wood as both structural unit and surface. The process emphasizes the inherent qualities of timber while introducing a new configuration that differs from its natural form.

PP1 Cabinet (storage), 475(W) x 410(D) x 1505(H) | all images courtesy of PnP Furniture (Plank and Point)

Rhythm, repairability, and modularity define the collection

The Cabinet Collection also reconsiders the role of the cabinet within contemporary interiors. As built-in storage is typically integrated into walls, freestanding cabinetry often recedes from attention. This project restores its physical presence, treating the cabinet as an independent architectural element within the room.

Construction is based on a system that increases the number of connection points while reducing rigidity between parts. Instead of relying on fixed joints, adhesives, or concealed fasteners, the components are segmented and connected in a way that allows for measured flexibility. This method enables individual elements to be replaced if damaged, supporting maintenance and long-term use.

By prioritizing assembly over seamless enclosure, the designers of PnP Furniture position the cabinet as an open system composed of distinct yet coordinated parts. The result is a modular structure that emphasizes rhythm, repairability, and an ongoing relationship between material, object, and space.

PP2 Cabinet (box), 520(W) x 455(D) x 1670(H)

PP5 Cabinet (drawer), 1115(W) x 365(D) x 1055(H)

PP11 Cabinet, 1145(W) x 255(D) x 1820(H)

PP14 Shelf / Divider, 473(W) x 340(D) x 1865(H)

PP15 Floor lamp, 270(W) x 270(D) x 1600(H)

PP6 Chair, 385(W) x 425(D) x 750(H)

PP11 Cabinet, 1145(W) x 255(D) x 1820(H)

project info:

name: Cabinet Collection

designer: PnP furniture (Plank and Point) | @pnp_furniture

lead designers: Kim Hunkyung, Yoo Jiung

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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Michael Jantzen envisions an interactive foldable cube lamp that opens and emits warm light from multiple corners. Made of painted wood, the interiors are layered with squared panels, each having an adjustable light. When closed, the lamp resembles a perfectly shaped cube, and once the user swings the panels outward, the warm light comes out depending on the direction of the opened corner. These panels are also irregular, bearing their own cuts and shapes and allowing the light to filter through differently, as if the user is shaping it like an abstract sculpture.

The light comes from the center and spreads outward through the openings. Inside, users can see horizontal yellow planes stacked one above the other. These planes are evenly spaced and glow softly, appearing like thin shelves or layers floating around the center. The light is not harsh as well but diffused, reminiscent of candlelight or sunset light, and offering a soft contrast with the cool-white exterior of the interactive foldable cube lamp.

all images courtesy of Michael Jantzen

Michael Jantzen uses painted wood around the lighting design

While it is still a concept project, the interactive foldable cube lamp by Michael Jantzen uses hinged corner pieces that can be slightly tilted or fully closed. They don’t fully attach to the lighting design, so there are gaps where rays of the warm light escape, ambiently illuminating a dark space. 

There seems to be a light-diffusing filter around the central bulb, which softens the glow, allowing for a more inviting shade. Its gentle color matches the choice of material, which is painted wood for the interior and clear white for the exterior, giving the interactive foldable cube lamp a minimalist appearance that doubles as a home sculpture wherever it is placed. So far, the project is a concept by architect Michael Jantzen, yet it allows future designs to take a look at how a lighting piece can become an engaging object inspired by art and architecture.

one corner of the lamp can be folded out

view when three corners are folded out

inside, there are squared panels making up the design

each level of the panel has its own ‘adjustable’ light

a single energy-efficient electric light bulb is located at the center of the cube

view of all panels folded out

the lighting piece is made of painted wood

the bulb is surrounded by a light-diffusing shield and six horizontal yellow-colored planes

the light quality as well as the shape of the lamp changes as the different corners are folded in and out

the light comes from the center and spreads outward through the openings

project info:

name: Interactive folding lamp
design: Michael Jantzen | @michael.jantzen22

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La Memoria del Río is a modular cultural pavilion developed as a reversible urban infrastructure for the city of Bogotá, Colombia. Designed by Alsar-Atelier in collaboration with SDRD, the project draws conceptual and formal references from Bogotá’s river systems, proposing a flexible architectural framework capable of supporting cultural activity without permanently altering its surroundings. The pavilion is conceived to appear and disappear across different urban contexts, establishing a decentralized model for public cultural space.

Positioned between public art and ephemeral architecture, the project operates as a temporary structure intended to reactivate underused urban sites through cultural programming. Commissioned by the Secretaría Distrital de Recreación y Deporte (SDRD), the initiative promotes temporary intervention as a strategy to distribute cultural activities across multiple neighborhoods rather than concentrating them in fixed locations. This approach allows the pavilion to be deployed repeatedly in diverse areas of the city, adapting to local conditions while maintaining a consistent architectural identity.

The conceptual framework is informed by Bogotá’s hydrological systems, particularly its rivers, which originate in the eastern mountain range and traverse varied topographies before reaching the savanna. These systems are understood as dynamic, adaptive infrastructures shaped by time, movement, and context. This understanding translates into a modular roof structure characterized by flexibility, expandability, and fluid formal expression. Rather than reproducing literal representations, the design abstracts the spatial and phenomenological qualities of water and flow.

La Memoria del Río Pavilion | all images courtesy of Alsar-Atelier

A Reversible Modular Unit that responds to wind and light

Based on these principles, the design team, formed by El Líder S.A.S., INGEACERO, and Alsar-Atelier, developed a modular unit measuring 6 meters in length, 8 meters in width, and 5 meters in height. The module features a vaulted elevation and unidirectional expandability, allowing it to be combined or subdivided depending on site requirements. The construction system relies entirely on dry connections, enabling rapid assembly and disassembly without permanent foundations. This allows installation in a wide range of urban settings, including streets, plazas, sports courts, and heritage areas, without causing irreversible impact.

The interior atmosphere further reinforces the project’s conceptual basis through an abstract interpretation of water movement. Suspended beneath a transparent polycarbonate roof, approximately 15,000 blue fabric fragments are distributed across the ceiling. Their motion, activated by wind, creates shifting patterns of light, shadow, and transparency that recall the behavior of flowing water. This element establishes a spatial experience that changes continuously with environmental conditions, reinforcing the pavilion’s temporary and responsive nature.

La Memoria del Río is a modular cultural pavilion designed as reversible urban infrastructure in Bogotá

Temporary Architecture as a Tool for Urban Cultural Exchange

Parque Bicentenario, located between Parque de la Independencia and the Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá and designed by Giancarlo Mazzanti, served as the project’s initial site and testing ground. The pavilion adapts to the park’s variable topography and lack of a rigid spatial order, responding to the site in a manner comparable to how a river occupies a valley. Constructed over a four-week period, the structure has hosted a range of cultural events, including gastronomic festivals, circus performances, and theatrical and artistic programs.

During the first half of 2026, La Memoria del Río will remain at this initial location before being redeployed across different areas of Bogotá. Through its modularity, reversibility, and mobility, the project establishes a repeatable cultural infrastructure that operates at an urban scale. Rather than functioning as a permanent building, La Memoria del Río positions architecture as a temporary spatial device, one that facilitates cultural exchange while referencing the city’s overlooked natural systems through form, material, and spatial experience.

the pavilion is conceived to appear and disappear across different urban contexts

the design draws formal and conceptual references from Bogotá’s river systems

rivers dynamics inform the pavilion’s flexible and expandable roof structure

vaulted geometry allows unidirectional expansion and subdivision

the pavilion by Alsar-Atelier supports cultural programming without permanent site alteration

the project operates between public art and ephemeral architecture

approximately 15,000 blue fabric fragments are suspended beneath the roof

the installation creates an abstract spatial interpretation of flowing water

construction

project info:

name: La Memoria del Rio
architect: Alsar-Atelier | @alsar_atelier, SDRD

location: Bogotá, Colombia

models and diagrams: Sebastian Pineda | @sebaspinedah

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Vox is a modular brass chair designed by architect Massimiliano Malagò that examines the structural challenges of collective decision-making through the lens of mathematics. Drawing on the work of economist Kenneth Arrow and 18th-century mathematician Nicolas de Condorcet, the project materializes logical paradoxes that arise in ranked-choice voting (RCV) systems. Using New York City’s recently adopted RCV system as a case study, the design explores how electoral mechanisms intended to ensure fairness can instead produce paradoxes, dissatisfaction, and instability.

The project focuses on the act of voting as both a civic ritual and a site of systemic tension. Vox addresses structural concerns within voting systems, rather than issues such as low turnout or fraud, highlighting how different electoral methods can yield conflicting results. In November 2019, New York City voters approved a charter amendment implementing RCV for mayoral primaries and other municipal elections. While RCV was intended to address limitations of the previous first-past-the-post system, including runoff costs and low voter engagement, it also introduces potential structural contradictions, which Vox seeks to examine in material form.

all images by Helene Helleu, Cristina Colussi

letter-patterned brass panels assemble Vox sculptural object

Designer Massimiliano Malagò’s Vox is constructed from 75 waterjet-cut brass panels connected by 100 custom 3D printed interlocking joints, forming a lattice that functions as both structure and ornament. Each panel’s fold extends into a flange with an X-shaped cut, receiving a two-part joint that locks the elements together. The panels represent individual votes, with letters A, B, C, D, and E applied in vinyl to denote candidate rankings.

Three hypothetical electoral scenarios are embedded within the object, each illustrating a structural limitation of the voting system. One scenario demonstrates a violation of monotonicity, in which ranking a candidate higher can paradoxically cause that candidate to lose. Another highlights the violation of the independence of irrelevant alternatives, showing how the addition or removal of a losing candidate can alter the election outcome. The third scenario references the Condorcet paradox, where collective preferences form a circular loop that prevents the emergence of a clear winner.

Vox is a modular brass chair designed by architect Massimiliano Malagò

Vox turns abstract political concepts into spatial experience

By translating abstract mathematical reasoning and electoral theory into a three-dimensional object, Vox exposes the inherent instability of democratic systems. The brass lattice functions as both a symbolic seat of power and a physical representation of the complexities of collective choice. Each panel and connection visualizes the interplay of individual votes and systemic rules, revealing that instability is not an error but an intrinsic feature of democratic processes.

Through this material exploration, Vox demonstrates how design can transform abstract political and mathematical concepts into a tangible, spatial experience, highlighting the structural limitations and paradoxes embedded within contemporary electoral systems.

the project examines collective decision-making through mathematical principles

the design translates voting paradoxes into a physical object

New York City’s ranked-choice voting system serves as the project’s case study

the chair addresses contradictions inherent in ranked-choice voting

Vox presents democratic instability as an inherent structural condition

the structure forms a lattice that is both ornamental and load-bearing

project info:

name: Vox New Yorkea

designer: Massimiliano Malagò | @massimilianomariamalago

photographers: Helene Helleu | @helenehelleu, Cristina Colussi

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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CIRCULUS Atelier is the working studio of Oka Architecture Design & Co., Ltd. (OAD) and a built application of the practice’s CIRCULUS architectural framework, which examines circularity, continuity, and long-term adaptability in design. Conceived as both a workplace in Yokohama, Japan, and a prototype, the project investigates how digital fabrication can inform architecture as a system that integrates exterior enclosure and interior spatial treatment within a unified material logic.

The building’s exterior is defined by KNIT, a modular facade system developed and fabricated by the practice using large-scale 3D printing. Rather than functioning as a conventional cladding, the facade operates as a woven surface composed of repeated printed units. Variations in geometry across the modules create depth and shadow, allowing the facade to respond to changing light conditions over time. The fabrication process remains legible, with the method of production directly expressed in the architectural surface.

all images courtesy of Oka Architecture Design & Co., Ltd. (OAD)

Suspended 3D Printed Elements Shape CIRCULUS Atelier’s interior

Inside the atelier, Studio Oka Architecture Design & Co., Ltd. (OAD) applies the same material approach in a different manner. Flexible 3D printed elements are suspended from the ceiling, forming a draped installation that introduces a soft overhead layer above the workspace. This suspended system filters daylight, moderates acoustics, and defines spatial zones without enclosing them. The ceiling is treated as a hanging field shaped by gravity and material behavior rather than as a rigid, fixed plane.

The interior installation relies on the inherent flexibility of the printed material, allowing elements to fold, overlap, and deform naturally. Through digital fabrication, softness becomes a controlled architectural attribute rather than a purely ornamental effect. Both the KNIT facade and the interior components are designed to be demountable, repairable, and reconfigurable, aligning with the CIRCULUS framework’s emphasis on reuse and adaptability.

overall view of the CIRCULUS atelier, wrapped in a 3D printed KNIT facade resembling a woven surface

a studio Designed for Adjustment, Reuse and Long-Term Flexibility

All elements are produced in-house using 3D printing, enabling precise geometric control while limiting material waste. Architecture is treated as an evolving assembly rather than a finished object, capable of adjustment and transformation over time. As a working studio, the atelier provides a setting in which material performance, spatial comfort, and durability can be evaluated through daily use.

CIRCULUS Atelier operates as both a functional workplace and a test site for architectural research. By integrating design, fabrication, and occupation within a single environment, the project presents an approach to architecture that prioritizes continuity, material behavior, and long-term flexibility within a circular design system.

detail of the KNIT facade around the window opening reveals the layered rhythm of the 3D printed components

the KNIT modules showcase subtle variations created through digital fabrication

interior view of the atelier workspace beneath a softly draped, textile-like suspended 3D printed installation

after 3D printing, the discharged material is reused as a wall-mounted object, reflecting circular principles

close-up of a soft, flexible 3D printed component used in the suspended interior installation

rejecting the fixed geometry of conventional shelving, 3D printed cells are assembled to form a unique shelf

light passing through the suspended elements creates a layered and atmospheric ceiling condition

a folded 3D printed screen resting on a chair, emphasizing the softness and flexibility of the material

the draped installation gently defines zones within the workspace without enclosing the space

oblique view of the suspended elements, emphasizing depth, repetition, and material softness

project info:

name: CIRCULUS Atelier
architect: Oka Architecture Design & Co., Ltd. | @o.a.d.co.ltd

location: Yokohama, Japan

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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